Agricultural combined drill dispenser

ABSTRACT

Apparatus in an agricultural combination machine for simultaneously inserting and positioning in the earth of at least two components, e.g. seed and fertilizer, primarily a combination machine for direct sowing on a field without previous soil cultivation of the ground by ploughing, harrowing or the like, and including a means cutting the earth, e.g. a disc coulter, a knife coulter or the like, and at least two tubular discharge means, one for each component, the cutting means and discharging means extending down into the earth under the earth surface. The means for cutting (2) and means for discharge (5, 6) are removably attached to a coulter arm (1) and to each other to be allowed displacement upwards and downwards such that they are mutually relatively adjustable in depth to given working depths under the earth surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a combined machine in accordance with thepreamble to claim 1.

2. History of the Related Art

Combined machines for simultaneous spreading of seed and commercialfertilizer in agriculture are known, e.g. from the U.S. Pat. No.3,213,812, which illustrates an apparatus with two mutually, relativelyfixed outlet nozzles, arranged side by side and at different workingdepths under the earth surface. One condition for the apparatus is thatearth can be led in between the nozzles (see FIG. 5 of the patentspecification), i.e. that the apparatus is intended for fields which areworked by ploughing and harrowing, or in some other way. For sowing seeddirectly into place in the earth, i.e. farming without ploughing it hasbeen necessary to supply fertilizer in a separate pass or on top of theearth. In addition, the combination sowing machines have only been ableto place fertilizer between alternate rows of seed.

Another known technique is apparent from SE 130,953, which is anapparatus for use in sowing directly onto unworked ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problems andto develop an apparatus for combined dispensing, e.g. of seed andfertilizer in direct sowing by simultaneous insertion into the earth andsuch that the distance laterally between seed and fertilizer may bevaried to desired values, while the depths of insertion under the earthsurface can be adjusted to different, desired values quite independentof each other. This signifies a great advantage, since differentcombinations of seed types and fertilizer types as well as the characterand composition of different earths require different procedures fordispensing and distribution.

The object is achieved by the invention having been given thecharacterizing features disclosed in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with the aid of an embodimentexample and in connection with the attached drawings, where

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus seen obliquely from thefront in relation to the working direction,

FIG. 2 illustrates the lower part of the apparatus in FIG. 1 seen fromone side,

FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus from behind,

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view transverse the working direction ofthe bottom most part of the apparatus in FIG. 3 while working in theground,

FIG. 5 is a section according to V--V in FIG. 4 after the apparatus hascompleted dispensing at different depths,

FIG. 6 is a schematic view from above, illustrating lateral dispensingaccording to VI--VI in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a section seen from above according to VII--VII in FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is a corresponding view according to VIII--VIII in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 the numeral 1 denotes the coulter arm of a disc coulter 2 anda combination share 7, including a discharge pipe 5 for fertilizer and adischarge pipe 6 for seed. Seed and fertilizer are fed to the outletmeans 6 and 5 via the feed pipes 8 and 9. The clamp 12 is connected tothe coulter arm 1 with the aid of three screws 13. An elastic element18, e.g. of rubber, is arranged between the clamp 12 and the arm 1. Theposition and direction of the combination share 7 can be varied withincertain limits by tightening the three screws 13 to different amounts. Aclip 19 is provided for keeping the feed pipes 8 and 9 together.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a share 3, which is fixed to the forward portionof the discharge pipe 6 for seed, and this pipe has aforwardly-downwardly directed share 4 at its lower portion. When theshare moves in the working direction 15 through the earth, the share 4will be subjected to a downwardly directed force. This facilitates thetravel of the feed means in earth which is hard or which contains plantresidue.

In FIG. 2 the denotations are the same as in FIG. 1 for the samedetails, and the arrow 15 denotes the working direction of the disccoulter 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates the clamp 12 from behind and how it connects thedetails 3-9 to the arm 1 with the aid of a bolted joint 14. By looseningthe bolted joint 14, the discharge pipe 6 and feed pipe 8 for seed, aswell as the discharge pipe 5 and feed pipe 9 for fertilizer may be movedboth vertically and laterally for being re-clamped in new positionsrelative each other and the arm 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the apparatus in more detail where, apart fromprevious details, the outlet opening for seed is denoted by the numeral10 and the outlet opening for fertilizer is denoted by 11. The dispensedseed is denoted by 16 and the dispensed fertilizer by 17. In an actualcase, the lateral distance between seed and fertilizer can be up to20-40 mms. Depending on the type of seed and fertilizer, as well as theproperties of the earth, a suitable lateral distance can be given othervalues. The dispensing depth for seed may be 30-40 mms and forfertilizer 50-80 mms. Of course, these values can also be varieddepending on circumstances. Usually, the difference between dispensingdepths for seed and fertilizer is from 20 to 60 mms, the fertilizershare 4 then being at the greater depth.

The disc coulter 2 opens a furrow in the unworked ground. Thecombination share 7 operates in this furrow, the fertilizer dischargepipe 5, its feed pipe 9 and the lower part of the pipe 6 being situatedin a protected position behind the seed share 3 when the combinationshare 7 traverses the ground in the working direction.

FIG. 5 illustrates how the seed 16 and fertilizer 17 are placed side byside, although at different depths as will be seen from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates how seed 16 and fertilizer 17 are situated inrelation to each other and to the earth surface after the disc coulter 2and combination share 7 have passed, and how the furrow that has beenmade has closed at an interface 20.

FIG. 7 is a section through the apparatus just above the earth surface,as is denoted in FIG. 2 by the section VII--VII. The interface 20 leftbehind by the furrow is formed at a short distance behind the disccoulter 2 and combination share 7.

FIG. 8 is a section through the combination share 7 during its operationand just under the earth surface, see section VIII--VIII in FIG. 2. Seed16 and fertilizer 17 have been dispensed and the furrow is in theprocess of closing into the interface 20 above seed and fertilizer.

Within the scope of the invention, one skilled in the art can achieveother embodiments than the one illustrated for the purpose ofexamplification. For example, the discharge means may comprise aso-called broad show coulter for band drilling or a "Duck foot" share,which can have a broad share for broadcast seeding.

I claim:
 1. A combination agricultural apparatus for substantiallysimultaneously cutting into the soil and implanting seeds and fertilizerand which is mounted to a coulter arm comprising, a cutting meansmounted to the coulter arm for forming a cut in the soil, a firstdischarge means for discharging seeds into the soil, a clamp means forvertically adjustably mounting said first discharge means to the coulterarm so as to be adjacent said cutting means, first adjustable means forsecuring said clamp means to the coulter arm and second adjustable meansfor securing said first discharge means to said clamp means, a seconddischarge means for discharging fertilizer into the soil, clip means formounting said second discharge means relative to said first dischargemeans, said first discharge means having a lower end extending withinthe cut in the soil, said second discharge means being adjacent to saidcutting means and said first discharge means and having a lower endwhich is horizontally spaced relative to said lower end of said firstdischarge means, said first adjustable means including an elastomericelement mounted between said clamp means and the coulter arm and aplurality of adjustable bolts extending through said clamp means andsaid elastomeric element and into the coulter arm, said bolts beingselectively adjustable to compress the elastomeric element to therebylaterally deflect said first discharge means with respect to the coulterarm, whereby said lower ends of said first and second discharge meansmay be selectively vertically adjusted relative to one another withinthe cut in the soil so that the fertilizer may be depositedsubstantially simultaneously with the seed but at different depthswithin the soil.
 2. The combination agricultural apparatus of claim 1 inwhich said first and second discharge means are mounted behind saidcutting means.
 3. The combination agricultural apparatus of claim 1 inwhich said lower end of said second discharge means is spaced at agreater working depth then said lower end of said first discharge means.4. The combination agricultural apparatus of claim 3 in which said lowerend of said second discharge means extends horizontally outwardly withrespect to said lower end of said first discharge means at a distance ofbetween 10 to 40 mms and extends approximately 20 to 60 mms verticallybeyond said lower end of said first discharge means.
 5. The combinationagricultural apparatus of claim 3 in which said lower end of said firstdischarge means includes an outwardly extending share means tofacilitate the movement of the first discharge means through the soil.6. The combination agricultural apparatus of claim 1 in which said lowerend of said first discharge means includes an outwardly extending sharemeans to facilitate the movement of the first discharge means throughthe soil.
 7. The combination agricultural apparatus of claim 6 includinga second share means extending vertically upwardly relative to saidfirst discharge means so as to extend forwardly of said first dischargemeans when said first discharge means is moved through the soil.